I hope not.

A movie like Robots doesn't need its chances for such a nomination increased.

The problem is mostly visibility and campaigns.

The biggest (IMO) folly people have when predicting the Oscars is they pick only what they think is very good, and that's admirable, and it is an element, but as most of the "vets" here can tell you, who have been with us a few seasons, it's not in reality what ends up getting nominated. Politics, money, studios all play a very big part in it.

I found it insulting that there could be such crummy, stupid jokes that are supposed to be amusing. 25 seconds of a CGI chicken isn't funny, it's even worse then all those shitty little flash cartoons on the internet. Maybe if you get the giggles over popsicle stick jokes you'll think it looks vaguely amusing, but I just found it to be irritating.

See my sig...
Marks my words: These three are locks!

Yeah... no CG film. [-(

That's actually what I'd peg it at right now, too.

Good call, sir!

So... All CGI flicks released this year have been average at best. Even 'Steamboy' makes a better chance then 'Robots' or 'Madagascar'.

::Spams you with all those shitty little flash cartoons on the internet::

Wallace and Gromit WILL win the Best Animated Picture Oscar. I don't think anyone realizes just what a treat that film will be. Aardman animation is simply incredible. They're like the British Pixar.

Maybe too early to start the Wallace & Grommit 100 million dollar club combined with the definitive academy award winner in the best animated feature category. However, I'm in.

Fine, just keep this post in mind in January.

I highly doubt the major CGI studio releases will be shut down.

DreamWorks will focus more on 'Wallace & Grommit" then on 'Madagascar'.
Fox's 'Robots' stands no chance in my opinion. It's by no distance another 'Ice Age'.
Paramount doesn't have a single animated feature right now. I'm not sure if they'll have a (Nickelodeon) feature planned for the rest of the year.
Sony got 'Steamboy'... but that one has already been forgotten and overshadowed.
Warner will likely push the talents of Burton with 'The Corpse Bride'. If it gets close to the genius of 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'... it's a lock.
And for Disney.... Miyazaki's 'Howl's Moving Castle' makes the best chance. But maybe 'Chicken Little' surprises enormously... for the moment I don't think so. 'Valiant' has been received so-so with mediocre releases in the U.K. and in France.

Too bad...I thought Steamboy was miles better than Howl. After seieng Howl, I actually have my doubts it will get a nom.

Look to Wallace and Gromit, Corpse Bride, and some CGI biggie. I call Corpse Bride the winner right now. I'm sure of it. Timmy will get his Oscar damnit!

I still have to see 'Howl' but 'Steamboy' was awesome with terrific animation. It deserved a much better release.

I tend to agree, especially since there is no Pixar film in contention this year.

If I am not mistaken, the animated film category is voted upon by members of the animation branch of the Academy which means they aren't as concerned about ticket sales or publicity and such but tend to vote for what they admire from their peers *and, unlike some Academy voters, have seen all the nominees), which is why Spirited Away won. This bodes well for Wallace and Grommit since Aardman is beloved in the animation community, and animators appreciate the work that goes into clay animation.

I'm not sure if that's true. I believe it's only the foreign language film category where the voters need to attend screenings to see all nominees before they are allowed to vote for the winner. For the rest, all voters are eligible to vote for the winners. The nomination process belongs to each individual branch.

I think box office does play a role in the animation category. Otherwise, Waking Life would've been nominated (what a travesty). Spirited Away won because the domestic competition was very weak that year. If it had to be up against Shrek, Monster's Inc, or Finding Nemo, it would probably have lost.

Only actor vote for actors in the nominations round, so...I guess that means..people involved in animation vote for animated film?

However everybody gets the vote for the winners.

But.


I think Chicken Little will win.

I might slightllllly biased though.

Well, knowing many people in the animation industry, and having run an animation magazine for many years, my impression is that they all keep track of the other studios and watch their films all the time, just to see what the "competition" is putting out.... so even if they aren't required to view each film they probably have anyway. That's what I was referring to.

I don't think they were impressed by Waking Life. It wasn't that great of an innovation (for people who know a lot about animation) and not that great of a film, really. If it had been released as a nonanimated film, it probably wouldn't have done as well as it did.

It looks like that both 'Tim Burton's Corpse Bride' and 'Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit' are locks for best animated picture. At the moment 'Howl's Moving Castle' is my #3 option. Maybe 'Chicken Little' can surprise... to give the CGI camp their nom.

Never heard of 'Wallce and Gromit...' but if it takes Madagascar's spot, I'll be very happy. Howl was a little dissapointing to me but it deserves a nomination. (and no, its not the Miyazaki fanboy in me... or maybe it is... *shrug*)

Corpse Bride
Chicken Little

Madagascar or Wallace & Gromit.

as long as it is Corpse Bride or Walace and Gronit that win the award i will be happy. If super crap like Madagascar, Robots, and maybe Chicken Little wins, someone will pay I dont want some B worthy CGI film taking the gand prize this year. Luckily there are no A wothy CGI films, otherwise they would have had it locked up months ago.

Now more than ever, I think that Wallace and Gromit has the Oscar in the bag. There's no way Nick Park's leaving the awards next year without another gold statuette, much as I'd prefer it to be Tim Burton taking it home.

Hmm.. it needs the box-office, and right now things don't look very good..

I still think that Chiken Little will be the main obstacle to Tim Burton (if it gets good reviews, of course)..